When you name your band The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, we immediately know a few things. First, the band really likes whiskey. Second, the band’s taste in whiskey is likely pretty diverse. And finally, they must make some pretty good music.
All of the above is true for the Massachusetts-based collective made up of Tory Hanna, Billy Keane, David Tanklewfsky, Greg Smith and Chris Merenda. The five musicians, who all have solo careers, first came together in 2012. Since then, the band has released two EPs and a live album to critical acclaim. Their new album, Band Together, was released this January.
I recently spoke with Keane about their name, their music and where they like to drink.
The Whiskey Lifestyle: The obvious first question is how did you all land on the band’s name?
Billy Keane: Before this project was a project, each of the original members were fronting bands at a local festival called The Whiskey Treaty. In addition to our band projects, each of us had, as we still have, solo acts which at the time brought us all down to Brooklyn for various shows. Realizing that we could form a new group with just us front guys, we put together a couple fun collaboration shows in the city. The response was great, we enjoyed the novel nature of the scope of the show, and so we decided to turn it into a small, four stop tour. As we were hitting the road anyway, in a throw-back to the old vaudevillian touring acts, we thought an apt name for the project would be The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow.
TWL: In fact, you all see yourselves as more of a collective, than a band. What’s the difference?
BK: The difference here, as we see it, really comes down to songwriting and band leadership. We are each bringing tunes to the table, more or less pre arranged. Although at this point in the life of the band we tend to arrange as a group for our various instrumental and vocal rolls, it remains to be true that we’re all contributing to the bands repertoire, and we try to democratize the leadership, both on and off stage, as much as possible. Opposed to a more traditional functioning of a band, this feels more like a collective, or a collaboration as we like to put it.
TWL: In 2015, you all did a documentary about the band. What inspired the film?
BK: To say we all did the documentary is a bit misleading, as the project was created, spearheaded and directed by the unstoppable Tim Bradley. All we had to do was play music. He wanted to create this documentary about our group, our project, but also about the creativity incubator that is Western Mass and the Berkshires. Although I’d like to think our music and our drive to succeed as a touring band inspired the film, I think it would be more truthful to say that indeed the film has inspired us to continue on doing what we’re doing.
TWL: What’s next for the band musically?
BK: We just released our first full length studio album, which has taken the majority of our energies and resources of the past year. We couldn’t be more proud of the product, the continued collaborations we bring to the table (Steve Gorman from the Black Crowes on drums, Pat Sanzone from Wilco on bass, and even a harmonica cameo by Arlo Guthrie to name a few) and the incredibly positive reactions we’ve received from fans and critics. In fact, Rolling Stone just named “Don’t Cross My Land”, the second track on the album and a standing rock pipeline protest song written by Tory Hanna, as one of their top 10 County/Americana tracks to listen to now. No Depression put the album on their top 6 to listen to now list.
As we more forward from this release we look very much forward to touring the album, hitting up new markets and continuing to perform for our fans all across the country.
TWL: I first met you all through Hudson Whiskey and Tuthilltown Spirits. Do you all continue to work with them or other brands?
BK: We absolutely do! In fact, Hudson is one of our primary partners on this album. They are an incredible company with an incredible product, and our mission statements, so to speak, seem to align really well. We’re all just trying to create the best products we can and get them to our fans/consumers as readily as possible. In short, Hudson totally rocks and we never would be where we are without them. In addition to Hudson Whiskey, Blackwing Pencils has really stepped up to help with this release, and is a huge part of our success with this album so far. They are patrons of the arts in the realest way; they even printed all our vinyl pressings!
TWL: What’s the band’s favorite city to drink in?
BK: It ain’t about the city my friend, it’s the people you’re drinking with.
TWL: If you or the fellas could drink whiskey with one person, dead or alive, who would it be? And why?
BK: I don’t want to speak for the guys, so I’ll take this one for myself; drinking whiskey to me is about the conversation. Not that I don’t enjoy a slug or two solo at the end of the day to unwind in peaceful reflection, but primarily I find that the benefit of whiskey, as other spirits, and in moderation of course, is that it can bring out some great back and forth. Although there are countless people with whom I’d love to sip a manhattan and wax philosophical with, I might need to go with Bob Dylan, a true and abiding hero of mine. I imagine much of the night might indeed pass by in silence, though I suspect that given enough of the social lubricant, he’d come out with some amazingly interesting rants. I’m not saying I’d get all of it, but it’d be a hell of a night (or morning; I really don’t know when Bob prefers his whiskey).
TWL: What does The Whiskey Lifestyle mean to you all?
BK: Now this is a definition that has certainly evolved for me over the years. The Whiskey Lifestyle is about open mindedness, compassion, creativity, friendliness, relaxation. Getting a nice buzz going is important in some circumstances, but it’s also peripheral to the real context, which is about those things plus growth, progress, positive change. It’s a mechanism by which we can further a cause through honest communication and understanding. And then, three or four drinks later, it’s also about having a good and safe time, dancing to the music, and appreciating every moment that we have to spend together in good spirits and solidarity.
